Are You Overbiked On Your Local MTB Trails? | GMBN Tech Show Ep. 161

With mountain bikes becoming more and more capable of tackling extremely gnarly terrain Doddy poses the question - are you over biked? On this weeks Tech Show. Do you really need that 170mm travel enduro bike on the trails that you ride most regularly? Or would you have more fun on something lightweight and with less travel?

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In the news, Propain release their new Hugene 29er, Production Privee tease a CNCed aluminium downhill bike, and skate shoe brand Etnies have an MTB specific shoe.

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Do you prefer to be over biked or are short travel rippers more your thing? Let us know in the comments!

[Kibbelingg]

I'm imagining some guy from Bath - happy to have ran into Doddy while riding on his brand new YT Capra - is now watching this video and has his feelings hurt.

[alexcarter]

I'm also certainly over biked 90% of the time but I ride for the other 10% where it comes into its own.

[jonnyrenfrow]

No matter what sport I'm doing, my equipment is always woefully inadequate

[joefinning]

I have a 120mm travel hardtail xc bike which I'm doing black downhill trails on. And I LOVE IT!!!

[lwittrock]

Everyone has their own reason for riding and thus their own style of riding, likes and dislikes, etc. Where I live, Southern California, I'm seeing more E-bikes hitting the trails. It used to bother me seeing guys who looked like they could easily power up the hill on their own power relying on batteries. But then I started to realize that not everyone out there is a purist, racer, etc. I guess its cool that more people are cycling and I think you would agree. I'm a racer and ride a XC Hardtail. Like you, Doddy, I love the powering up the climbs, racing down some technical single track using all my skills and experience to stay upright.

[apaquatics]

I feel overbiked now and then but at the same time I know I can take my bike everywhere knowing I don’t have to have to spend more money on a new bike 😁

[djhillesq]

I'm riding a Giant Anthem with 27.5 wheels, 120mm up front and 100mm in the rear. I love the bike, after riding a hard tail for nearly 2 decades, the full sus has unlocked the confidence to ride technical downhill much more aggressively, as I typically ride XC. I feel like I'm getting the most this bike has to offer, but I can see the potential of wanting something with more travel later on. For now though, I'm happy with my set up.

[hane_]

I ride a 140mm hardtail, everything feels difficult & rewarding in one hit!! 😂

[pranavreddy]

I want Doddy to go to whistler as soon as he is allowed.

[Penri]

Hi Doddy, You are spot on about being over biked. You should feel those things, the bike braking away and being on the edge. Iv ridden and raced mountain and road bikes since I was 21, I'm now 52, My last MTB I bought was a Scott Spark 10 full carbon XTR super light back the over 11years ago now, I've still got it and still love it, you would call it an antique!
I recently bought a Gravel Bike. its amazing for ail the reasons you said. its all a bit loose and sketchy, but that what makes it great fun, and takes me back to the early days of Mountain Biking where you had to learn how to ride, the brakes were rubbish, the tyres were rubbish. But it was FUN.
Keep the show going its great, even if I'm lost with all your slacker head angles, and steeper seat angles.

[xdi]

This particular show that you do is arguably the best MTB show on youtube. Has the most information condensed into each show.

[SubmarinersDive]

I never feel over biked with 180mm travel. In fact it encourages me to send it more! Tires that are right for the terrain are key.

[lewwee]

If you ride a longer travel bike and feel over biked on more mellow trails just run less sag, less comp damping and a touch more rebound to compensate.. It'll make it feel a lot more reactive.

[philwilkinson]

tbh, at my level, no matter what bike i have, i would be over biked :)

[Charon]

I just got a 120 rear, 130 front and was worried I’d be under biked, but I max out the rear travel about once a twice a ride on the gnarliest DH’s which feels pretty perfect

[Gaz_Oven]

I'm totally over-biked (META 29 AM), but I needed a new one, had a brand in mind and took what I could get my hands on in the current climate. I'm sure I could have more fun on a shorter travel bike (I may even go back to hardtail at some point) but I do like that I've been able to start pushing my boundaries more in the knowledge that the bike will be able to take it.

[scott]

Then why did they make the Zeb or Fox 38??? Andrew, you may be incorrect here. I say different strokes for different folks. Personally, for me I appreciate 180MM of travel and the 170MM rear travel. Ride faster eating up bumps with long travel makes for an epic ride no doubt!!!

[onthethrottle]

The 'overbiked' conversation. Reminds me of "Would you rather drive a slow car fast, or a fast car slow".

[Hemanfreeman]

Bikes are really expensive. Especially these days. Not everyone can afford multiple bikes, like myself, hence why I have a YT Capra that is way too much bike for some places I ride but that's the cost of having a bike that hauls arse where you need it to. I'd rather have a bike that's hard to ascend on but is epic for the steeper descents. The Capra was an upgrade from a Giant Trance and even though it's harder to pedal it's so much better to ride and in turn has made me a much better rider.